Gunman ambushes Philadelphia policeman ‘in the name of Islam’

A gunman claiming allegiance to Islamic State militants shot and seriously wounded a Philadelphia police officer, saying he ambushed his patrol car “in the name of Islam,” the city’s police commissioner said on Friday. Edward Archer of Philadelphia approached Officer Jesse Hartnett, 33, shortly before midnight and fired 11 rounds, three of which hit the officer in his arm, authorities said. Hartnett chased Archer, who was arrested by responding officers and later confessed to the attack, police officials told reporters. “He has confessed to committing this cowardly act in the name of Islam,” Ross told a press conference, adding that the 30-year-old assailant also referenced Islamic State militants. A top US Muslim advocacy group said it had found no evidence that Archer was an observant Muslim.